OCT 13 FRI: DEPART NEW YORK(JFK)
Check in for your flight on Emirates Airline to Delhi, India making a connection in Dubai.
OCT 14-SAT: ARRIVE DELHI
Meeting and assistance upon arrival then transfer to hotel.
HOTEL CHECK IN TIME IS 1200 NOON.
Afternoon visit New Delhi as we drive up to the 12th century Qutab Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years.
Visit the mausoleum of emperor Humayun - a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture.
Drive past the India Gate (war memorial dedicated to the lives of laid down by the Indian soldiers), the president's residence - formerly the Viceroy's Palace, parliament House and the Secretariat buildings, - an interesting blend of the Victorian and 20th century architecture.
Overnight at hotel.
OCT 15-SUN: TRAIN DELHI-HARIDWAR
DRIVE HARIDWAR-RISHIKESH
In time transfer to railways station to board train to Haridwar:
Depart: Delhi at 0630 hrs by Dehradun Shatabdi Express
Arrive: Haridwar at 1120 hrs
Meeting and assistance upon arrival drive to Rishikesh (25Kms/ 01 hour) on arrival check in at hotel.
Evening, we will participate in a prayer ceremony (Aarti) at Parmarth.
Overnight at hotel.
OCT 16-MON: IN RISHIKESH
Morning visit the Shivananda Ashram where discourses in English on Hindu religious texts can be heard. Also visit the Lakshman Jhoola, a suspension bridge spanning the Ganga.
Evening free for individual activities.
Overnight at hotel.
OCT 17-TUE: TRAIN HARIDWAR - DELHI
In time transfer to railways station to board train to Delhi:
Depart: Haridwar at 0615 hrs Dehradun Jan Shatabdi Express
Arrive: Delhi at 1115 hrs
Meeting and assistance upon arrival & transfer hotel.
Late morning's sightseeing of Old Delhi take you to Jama Masjid as you drive past the Red Fort. This mosque made of red sandstone and white marble, was completed in 1656 & is the India's largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer.
Take a cycle rickshaw (Pedi cab) ride through Chandi Chowk, once an imperial avenue of Mughal royalty, which today is the busiest commercial area of the city.
Visit Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna, Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. An eternal flame burns 24 hours.
Overnight at hotel.
OCT 18-WED: DRIVE DELHI- AGRA (204 KMS / 04 HRS)
Morning drive to Agra, en-route visiting Mathura & Vrindavan.
Post visit continue drive to Agra, on arrival check in hotel.
Afternoon visit the Agra Fort, built alongside the Yamuna river stretching almost 2.5 km. The fort's colossal double walls rise 20 m in height and measure 2.5 km in circumference. The fort is surrounded by a moat. The lofty battlements of the Agra Fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of nobles and princes built along the riverfront.
In Evening for the ladies we have a session with a street artist for Henna or a Henna palm & hand painting.
Overnight at hotel.
OCT 19-THU: DRIVE AGRA-JAIPUR (221 KMS / 05 HRS)
“HAPPY DIWALI”
Morning visit Taj Mahal. Visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in 1560 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 17 years to complete this 'Love Poem in Marble'. (Friday closed).
Post visit drive to Jaipur en-route visiting Fatehpur sikri.
Fatehpursikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the 'Ghost City' including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendor of the Mughal empire at the height of its power.
Post visit continue drive to Jaipur, on arrival check in at hotel.
Later transfer to a venue where guests can enjoy “Diwali” celebration followed by dinner at Diggi Palace on fixed menu basis.
Overnight at hotel.
OCT 20-FRI: IN JAIPUR
Morning Amber Fort with elephant ride:
Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. A major attraction at Amber is the Elephant Ride all the way up to the Fort entrance. This journey on caparisoned elephants is bound to enrich your memories with the Royal lifestyle of the Maharajas and leave you with a truly unforgettable experience. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal - a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. En route to Amber Fort, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds.
Afternoon city tour begins with a visit to the Maharaja's City Palace, the former Royal residence, part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armory Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition.
Evening attend an `aarti' prayer ritual ceremony at Birla Mandir (modern Hindu temple).
Overnight at hotel.
OCT 21-SAT: FLY JAIPUR- MUMBAI
In time transfer to airport to board flight to Mumbai:
Depart: Jaipur at 0850hrs by Indigo (6E 695)
Arrive: Udaipur at 1035hrs
Meeting and assistance upon arrival & directly proceed for Bollywood tour followed by hot buffet lunch.
Evening return to your hotel, on arrival check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
OCT 22-SUN: IN MUMBAI
Morning proceed tour the bustling city of Mumbai and enjoy the following sights: The Gateway of India, the Fish Aquarium, Kamala Nehru Park, also Marine Drive and Chowpaty Beach. Visit Mani Bhawan where Gandhi stayed during his visits to Bombay (1917-1934) and which is now a remarkable memorial. Visit The Prince of Wales Museum and view their excellent examples of Indian miniature paintings. Drive past the Flora Fountain Bombay nerve center to Victoria Terminus train station, Mumbai's finest High Victorian Gothic architecture. Finally, pass through the colorful Crawford Market and the long gracefully curving Marine Drive.
Afternoon vehicle on disposal for shopping at local market.( 04hours/ 40 Kms)
Overnight at hotel.
OCT 23 -MON: LEAVE MUMBAI
In time transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
ARRIVAL DUBAI
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. On arrival check-in at hotel Hyatt Place.
Evening Shopping tour at Dubai Mall (04 Hours) with English speaking guide.
Overnight at hotel
OCT 24 - TUE: DEPART DUBAI
Morning half day Dubai City tour with English speaking.
In time transfer to Airport to board flight for New York (JFK) on Emirates Airline. Itinerary is subject to change
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